Bolingbrook, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Bolingbrook is a large village in Will
and DuPage
Counties in the U.S. state
of Illinois
. As of the 2010 US Census, the population is 73,366. It is the 17th largest incorporated place in Illinois.
Bolingbrook borders the communities of Woodridge
, Romeoville, Plainfield
, and Naperville
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total of 4,823 African Americans.
of 2000, there were 56,321 people, 17,416 households, and 14,246 families residing in the village. The population density
was 2,746.5 people per square mile (1,060.2/km²). There were 17,884 housing units at an average density of 872.1 per square mile (336.7/km²).
The racial makeup of the village in 2010 was 54.27% White, 20.44% African American, 0.3% Native American, 11.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.5% from other races
, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.40% of the population.
There were 17,416 households out of which 48.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 3.56.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $67,852, and the median income for a family was $71,527 (these figures had risen to $76,392 and $82,462 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $46,915 versus $33,665 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $23,468. About 2.9% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
, having been incorporated in 1965. The first non-indigenous settlement in what is now Bolingbrook occurred in the 1830s, but the informal farming villages remained unincorporated for over 130 years. The tiny Boardman Cemetery, in what is now the Heritage Creek subdivision, contains the remains of some of these early residents.
Modern Bolingbrook has its roots in the housing boom of the 1950s. The first subdivision in Bolingbrook, known as Westbury, was located immediately west of Route 53. A second subdivision, known as Colonial Village, followed, located on the far east side of Route 53. The village continued to grow steadily for the remainder of the 1960s, reaching a population of 7,000 by 1970. The 1970s were the first period of rapid growth in Bolingbrook, during which its population quintupled to reach over 37,000 by 1980. Much of this growth was as much due to mass annexation as well as raw population growth; the population of Bolingbrook by the 1970 census but with its 1980 land boundary was approximately 25,000, further reflecting the vigorous annexation that took place during the 1970s. However, Bolingbrook made Illinois' list of 100 Top places to live.
During the 1980s, growth in Bolingbrook and Will County slowed considerably as the focus of Chicago area growth in that decade largely shifted to the northern tier of suburbs in Lake and McHenry counties. By 1990, Bolingbrook's population had only increased by about 10% from the previous decade, to about 41,000. The main benefit of this slower growth is that it allowed the village's infrastructure (especially its school district) to catch up with its population.
The 1990s ushered in a second wave of strong growth to Bolingbrook, as Will and nearby Kendall counties once again became Chicago's fastest growing region. This second growth wave continued until 2007, when the population peaked at over 75,000. Due to a huge increase in mortgage foreclosures, the population has dropped by more than 5,000.
At this time, the police "station" was headquartered in a spare bedroom in Leonard's home. The police car was kept in his garage when it was not patrolling. Later the station moved to an old farmhouse on Braircliff Road by Saint Dominic's Church. Leonard's wife,
Delphine M. Leonard (Hench) served as the village's first police radio operator.
Eventually, the first police chief, Fred Greening was hired. He was recruited from the detective division of the Detroit Police Department
.
The current mayor of Bolingbrook is Republican Roger C. Claar, who has served in that role for nearly two decades. Claar has recently come under scruitiny for his lavish lifestyle funded by his campaign fund.
. Other school districts that serve Bolingbrook include: Plainfield School District 202
, Indian Prairie School District 204
, Naperville School District 203, Woodridge School District 68, and Downers Grove High School District 99
.
Early history: School District 365U was originally known as District 94. It took its present name when it became the first school district in the United States to implement the 45-15 plan, in which schools were occupied year round with 3/4 of the students in session at any one time. Students went to school for 9 weeks and then had 3 weeks off. Additionally, teachers were optionally allowed to work year-round.
The first school built in Bolingbrook was North View School located at 151 E. Briarcliff Rd., Bolingbrook, IL (now closed).
High Schools: Bolingbrook High School
(365U), Plainfield North and Plainfield East
(202), Neuqua Valley High School
, Naperville (204), Naperville Central (203), and Downers Grove South
(99). Romeoville High School
also serves as an alternative for some students residing in Valley View 365U. In addition, selected Bolingbrook teens attend the Illinois Math and Science Academy Aurora
.
Middle Schools: In Valley View 365U - Brooks (located in the former Bolingbrook High School building and home of the district's ESL program), Jane Addams, and Hubert H. Humphrey. In Indian Prairie 204 (Naperville) - Gregory. In Naperville CUSD 203 - Madison. In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 - Kennedy (Plainfield). In Woodridge Elementary School District 68 - Jefferson (Woodridge).
Elementary Schools: In Valley View 365U - Bernard J. Ward (formerly a middle school), Independence, Jamie McGee, John R. Tibbott, Jonas E. Salk, Pioneer, Oak View, and Wood View. In Indian Prairie 204 - Builta. In Naperville 203 - River Woods. In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 - Liberty. In Woodridge Elementary School District 68 - John L. Sipley.
Alternative Schools: In Valley View 365U Phoenix Experierence [also housed in the Bolingbrook High School building.]
Catholic Schools: St. Dominic School (serving grades PK - 8). Parochial grade school students may go on to Catholic high schools in proximinity to Bolingbrook such as Benet Academy
in Lisle
, Joliet Catholic Academy
in Joliet
, and Mount Assisi Academy
(Girls) in Lemont
.
, a municipal facility which includes an 18-hole course, is located in the village. Other Golf Courses within proximinity of Bolingbrook include: Naperbrook GC, Tamarack GC, Wedgewood GC, and Links at Carillon (all in Plainfield), White Eagle GC, and Springbrook GC in Naperville, Village Greens of Woodridge, and Seven Bridges GC in Woodridge, River Bend GC in Lisle, Carriage Greens GC and RCC in Darien, Cog Hill GC
in Lemont, and Mistwood GC in Romeoville.
A WGN-TV helicopter is stationed at Clow Airport. The airport previously served as a base station for Air Angels Aeromedical Transport prior to the company closing its doors in early 2009. It also provides flight training and airplane charters through A & M Aviation, aircraft maintenance through A & M Maintenance, and has an EAA chapter that provides free Young Eagles flights for children.
The Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolingbrook was formed in 2004. The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and is located in a remodeled hangar at Clow International Airport, currently donated by the Village of Bolingbrook.
Tony Boudreau-winning.
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
and DuPage
DuPage County, Illinois
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 916,924, White Americans made up 77.9% of Dupage County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 70.5% of the population. Black Americans made up 4.6% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.3% of Dupage County's population...
Counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. As of the 2010 US Census, the population is 73,366. It is the 17th largest incorporated place in Illinois.
Geography
Bolingbrook is located at 41°41′55"N 88°5′19"W (41.698613, -88.088668).Bolingbrook borders the communities of Woodridge
Woodridge, Illinois
Woodridge is a suburb of Chicago, located primarily in DuPage County, Illinois with portions in Will County and Cook County. It uses the 630 and 331 area codes. The population was 30,934 at the 2000 census. A special census commissioned in 2003 put the population at 33,253...
, Romeoville, Plainfield
Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County...
, and Naperville
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total of 4,823 African Americans.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 56,321 people, 17,416 households, and 14,246 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,746.5 people per square mile (1,060.2/km²). There were 17,884 housing units at an average density of 872.1 per square mile (336.7/km²).
The racial makeup of the village in 2010 was 54.27% White, 20.44% African American, 0.3% Native American, 11.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.5% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.40% of the population.
There were 17,416 households out of which 48.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 3.56.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $67,852, and the median income for a family was $71,527 (these figures had risen to $76,392 and $82,462 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $46,915 versus $33,665 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $23,468. About 2.9% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Growth History
Bolingbrook is a relatively new suburb of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, having been incorporated in 1965. The first non-indigenous settlement in what is now Bolingbrook occurred in the 1830s, but the informal farming villages remained unincorporated for over 130 years. The tiny Boardman Cemetery, in what is now the Heritage Creek subdivision, contains the remains of some of these early residents.
Modern Bolingbrook has its roots in the housing boom of the 1950s. The first subdivision in Bolingbrook, known as Westbury, was located immediately west of Route 53. A second subdivision, known as Colonial Village, followed, located on the far east side of Route 53. The village continued to grow steadily for the remainder of the 1960s, reaching a population of 7,000 by 1970. The 1970s were the first period of rapid growth in Bolingbrook, during which its population quintupled to reach over 37,000 by 1980. Much of this growth was as much due to mass annexation as well as raw population growth; the population of Bolingbrook by the 1970 census but with its 1980 land boundary was approximately 25,000, further reflecting the vigorous annexation that took place during the 1970s. However, Bolingbrook made Illinois' list of 100 Top places to live.
During the 1980s, growth in Bolingbrook and Will County slowed considerably as the focus of Chicago area growth in that decade largely shifted to the northern tier of suburbs in Lake and McHenry counties. By 1990, Bolingbrook's population had only increased by about 10% from the previous decade, to about 41,000. The main benefit of this slower growth is that it allowed the village's infrastructure (especially its school district) to catch up with its population.
The 1990s ushered in a second wave of strong growth to Bolingbrook, as Will and nearby Kendall counties once again became Chicago's fastest growing region. This second growth wave continued until 2007, when the population peaked at over 75,000. Due to a huge increase in mortgage foreclosures, the population has dropped by more than 5,000.
Law and Government
John J."Jack" Leonard was instrumental in the initial incorporation of the village and served as the village's first mayor. Prior to hiring a full-time police chief he served "double-duty" as both Village President and part-time Police Chief.At this time, the police "station" was headquartered in a spare bedroom in Leonard's home. The police car was kept in his garage when it was not patrolling. Later the station moved to an old farmhouse on Braircliff Road by Saint Dominic's Church. Leonard's wife,
Delphine M. Leonard (Hench) served as the village's first police radio operator.
Eventually, the first police chief, Fred Greening was hired. He was recruited from the detective division of the Detroit Police Department
Detroit Police Department
The Detroit Police Department , established in 1865, is responsible for the city of Detroit, Michigan.-History:The Detroit Police Department was established in 1865 to serve the city's growing population and covers the city with 5 districts and two precincts. The Detroit Police Department was also...
.
The current mayor of Bolingbrook is Republican Roger C. Claar, who has served in that role for nearly two decades. Claar has recently come under scruitiny for his lavish lifestyle funded by his campaign fund.
Schools
Most of Bolingbrook lies within the boundaries of Valley View School District 365U and Fountaindale Public Library District, both of which also include nearby Romeoville, IllinoisRomeoville, Illinois
Romeoville is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,153 at the 2000 census. As of 2006 the population has grown to 36,837. It is located in the southwest suburban area of Chicago near the newly constructed I-355 extension south from the Stevenson Expressway to I-80...
. Other school districts that serve Bolingbrook include: Plainfield School District 202
Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 is a public school district located primarily in the Chicago suburb of Plainfield, Illinois....
, Indian Prairie School District 204
Indian Prairie School District 204
Indian Prairie School District 204 serves students from the Illinois communities of Aurora, Bolingbrook, Plainfield and Naperville. Currently one preschool, twenty-one elementary schools, seven middle schools, three high schools, and one alternative high school are in the district...
, Naperville School District 203, Woodridge School District 68, and Downers Grove High School District 99
Community High School District 99
Community High School District 99 is a local school district serving Downers Grove, Woodridge, Bolingbrook, Darien, Lisle, Oak Brook, and Westmont in the state of Illinois. It consists of two high schools, North High School and South High School, both located in Downers Grove. The current...
.
Early history: School District 365U was originally known as District 94. It took its present name when it became the first school district in the United States to implement the 45-15 plan, in which schools were occupied year round with 3/4 of the students in session at any one time. Students went to school for 9 weeks and then had 3 weeks off. Additionally, teachers were optionally allowed to work year-round.
The first school built in Bolingbrook was North View School located at 151 E. Briarcliff Rd., Bolingbrook, IL (now closed).
High Schools: Bolingbrook High School
Bolingbrook High School
Bolingbrook High School or BHS is a public four-year high school located in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
(365U), Plainfield North and Plainfield East
Plainfield East High School
Plainfield East High School, or PEHS is a four-year public high school located in Plainfield, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
(202), Neuqua Valley High School
Neuqua Valley High School
Neuqua Valley High School, or NVHS is a public four-year high school located near the corner of Illinois Route 59 and 95th Street in Naperville, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
, Naperville (204), Naperville Central (203), and Downers Grove South
Downers Grove South
Downers Grove South High School, or DGS, is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Dunham Road and 63rd Street in Downers Grove, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Community High School District 99, which also includes Downers Grove...
(99). Romeoville High School
Romeoville High School
Romeoville High School, or RHS, is a public four-year high school located in Romeoville, Illinois that opened in 1963 as Lockport West....
also serves as an alternative for some students residing in Valley View 365U. In addition, selected Bolingbrook teens attend the Illinois Math and Science Academy Aurora
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
.
Middle Schools: In Valley View 365U - Brooks (located in the former Bolingbrook High School building and home of the district's ESL program), Jane Addams, and Hubert H. Humphrey. In Indian Prairie 204 (Naperville) - Gregory. In Naperville CUSD 203 - Madison. In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 - Kennedy (Plainfield). In Woodridge Elementary School District 68 - Jefferson (Woodridge).
Elementary Schools: In Valley View 365U - Bernard J. Ward (formerly a middle school), Independence, Jamie McGee, John R. Tibbott, Jonas E. Salk, Pioneer, Oak View, and Wood View. In Indian Prairie 204 - Builta. In Naperville 203 - River Woods. In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 - Liberty. In Woodridge Elementary School District 68 - John L. Sipley.
Alternative Schools: In Valley View 365U Phoenix Experierence [also housed in the Bolingbrook High School building.]
Catholic Schools: St. Dominic School (serving grades PK - 8). Parochial grade school students may go on to Catholic high schools in proximinity to Bolingbrook such as Benet Academy
Benet Academy
Benet Academy is a co-educational, college-preparatory, Benedictine high school in Lisle, Illinois, United States, overseen by the Diocese of Joliet. Founded in 1887, the school was initially established in Chicago as the all-boys St. Procopius College and Academy by Benedictine monks, who also...
in Lisle
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
, Joliet Catholic Academy
Joliet Catholic Academy
Joliet Catholic Academy is a coed Catholic High School located in Joliet, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet. One of the oldest Catholic high schools in the Chicago area, Joliet Catholic is perhaps best known for its prowess in football...
in Joliet
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
, and Mount Assisi Academy
Mount Assisi Academy
Mount Assisi Academy is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Lemont, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.-History:...
(Girls) in Lemont
Lemont, Illinois
Lemont is a village located in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, and is roughly southwest of Chicago. The population was 16,625 at the 2007 Special Census.-History:...
.
Bolingbrook Park District
The Bolingbrook Park District was created in 1970, after approved by referendum. In 1974, the Park District built its first new building, the Deatheredge/Drdake Center, constructed only with volunteer labor. In the following three decades the Bolingbrook Park District has grown to include numerous woodlands and parks, several community centers, the Pelican Harbor Indoor/Outdoor Aquatic Complex (recognized for its excellence by Chicago Magazine in April 2004), and the Bolingbrook Recreation and Aquatic Complex (BRAC). Most recently, the Bolingbrook Park District was one of the four finalists for the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park Management, Facilities, and Programs.Golf
Bolingbrook is home to the Boughton Ridge Golf Course, a 9-hole course owned by the Bolingbrook Park District. In addition, the Bolingbrook Golf ClubBolingbrook Golf Club
The Bolingbrook Golf Club, a municipal facility located in Bolingbrook, Illinois, USA, features an 18-hole course designed by golf course architect Arthur Hills.The course was voted one of the "Top Ten You Can Play" by Golf Magazine in 2002...
, a municipal facility which includes an 18-hole course, is located in the village. Other Golf Courses within proximinity of Bolingbrook include: Naperbrook GC, Tamarack GC, Wedgewood GC, and Links at Carillon (all in Plainfield), White Eagle GC, and Springbrook GC in Naperville, Village Greens of Woodridge, and Seven Bridges GC in Woodridge, River Bend GC in Lisle, Carriage Greens GC and RCC in Darien, Cog Hill GC
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club is a public golf complex located southwest of Chicago. Cog Hill hosts the PGA Tour's BMW Championship from 2009 to 2011 on its championship course Dubsdread.-History:...
in Lemont, and Mistwood GC in Romeoville.
Aviation
Clow International Airport is a small airport off of Boughton-Weber with an estimated 3362 feet (1,024.7 m) runway. Clow is a public (non-commercial) airport, owned by the Village and operated under a contract with a management company. In 1989, the airport was named the "best privately-owned, public use airport in Illinois." Currently, there are 70,000 take-offs and landings at the airport annually.A WGN-TV helicopter is stationed at Clow Airport. The airport previously served as a base station for Air Angels Aeromedical Transport prior to the company closing its doors in early 2009. It also provides flight training and airplane charters through A & M Aviation, aircraft maintenance through A & M Maintenance, and has an EAA chapter that provides free Young Eagles flights for children.
The Illinois Aviation Museum at Bolingbrook was formed in 2004. The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and is located in a remodeled hangar at Clow International Airport, currently donated by the Village of Bolingbrook.
Notable residents
- Steve Jaros, PBAProfessional Bowlers AssociationThe Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
bowlerBowler (ten-pin)A bowler is someone participating in the sport of bowling, either as an amateur or professional. In American ten-pin bowling, a bowler is most commonly a member of a team of three to six people...
, Major Champion.
- Drew PetersonDrew PetersonDrew Walter Peterson is a former Bolingbrook, Illinois, police sergeant who is suspected of killing his third and fourth wives. The story has received national media attention in the United States. Peterson has repeatedly denied involvement in both cases...
, former Bolingbrook, Illinois police sergeant who has received national attention for being a suspect in a police investigation following the disappearance of his fourth wife. He is also on trial for drowning his second wife.
- Bobby Abrams, guitarist and vocalist formerly of The BuckinghamsThe BuckinghamsThe Buckinghams are an American Sunshine Pop band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1966 and went on to become one of the top selling acts of 1967. The band dissolved in 1970 but reformed in 1980 and continue to tour throughout the United States....
.
- Tony Boudreau- winning.
Rankings
In Money Magazine's August 2010 Edition of "America's Top 100 Places to Live," Bolingbrook has been placed as #43. In its 2008 edition, it was placed at #32.Tony Boudreau-winning.
External links
- Village website
- Clow Airport
- Illinois Aviation Museum
- website of the Bolingbrook Park District
- Fountaindale Public Library